Formation tester



May 4, 1937.

H. C. YARBROUGH FORMATION TESTER Filed March 12, 1954 Fuga.T

7 INVENTUR HmaoLD C`. Y YAeanouaH BWM" ATTORNEY 'roamed Moy-4, 1937s UNirEn :STATES amano PATENT ori-lcs FORMATION TESTER p imola c. Yarbrough, mooi, can. apliosuon Midoun, 1934, sor'm No. 115,034 a 9 claims. u (ci. ies-1) .This invention has to do in a general way with the socalled formationv testerused in obtaining samples from underground formations vor regions I l may be. My invention, therefore, `consists broadly in providlnga formation tester with positive means for applying suction directly to the forma,-

tion and withdrawing liquid from isolated packed-off area in the bottom of abore hole.

, 4 Broadly, my invention embodies packing means adapted tom engage a wallin the bore. `ho1e or a easing to form an isolated packed-oi! area in the bottom of the well and pumping means for positively withdrawing the liquid from the isolated area into or through a liquid delivery tubing. A valve of some kind is provided to prevent the entrance of well fluid into the pump until such time as the packer has been set.

The packing means may be one of two general 2 5 types known asftne shoulder or bottom ho1e packer, and thewall or straight hole packer. In the use of the first packer, it' is customary to provide what is known as a rathole in the' bottom of the main bore hole,`such. rat lhole being connected with the main bore hole by a tapered shoulder formed with a suitable reaming device. `In the case of the latter-packer, the

' packing memberls associated with slips adapted to be actuated in any suitable manner well-known 35 to those familiar with the art, such as by rotating the tubing or pipe whereby the unit is suspended. lInaslnuch as the application of the wall type packer will be obvious to those familiar with the 40 art. I will illustrate and describe my invention only in commotion with the shoulder'or bottom hole packer.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a formation tester ofthe class described with a novel valve construction whichmay be employed to prevent the ingress of liquid from the bore hole into the tester while it isbeing lowered. and in a modified form of my'invention, I provide a novel form of valve means for v preventing ingress of liquid into thetester while it is being raised.-

, It will be understood that in the ordinary type of tester described hereinabove. it isi positively essential that the tester be closed against theinvention, however, I may operate the pumping element to deliver the sample to the surface of the ground before the tester is removed. and when operated in this manner it is not necessary to clo'se the tester when it is raised. In operating 5 at great depths, however, there arecertain advantages in removing the tester and the sample before the liquid has been pumped to the surface of the ground and when it is desired to operate the unit in this manner, I may employ the 10 modied form of the device, or I may employ one of the conventional valve mechanisms used in practice.

Thevdetails in the construction of certain preferred forms of my invention. together with other l5 objects attending its production. will be best understood from the following description of the accompanying drawing which is chosen for illustrative purposes only, and in which- Fig. 1 is an elevational view partly in section 20 showing one form of formation tester, contemplated by my invention, as having been lowered into the bore hole to a point just prior to its engagement with the shoulder or a rat hole;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation .illusgs trating the device shown in Fig. 1 as having been lowered into -position with the packer engagingthe shoulder;

' Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing a modified form of the invention lowered so into a borehole and positioned just prior to the engagement with the packer with a rat hole shoulder; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation similar to Fig. 3 showing the tool as having been lowered into testing position.

More particularly describing the invention as herein illustrated, reference numeral II indicates .a bore hole which terminates at its lower end in ated belowthe rat hole I3 is that from which the test sample ls to be obtained, and it is to be further understood that the bore hole may have been 45 provided with a-casing which in turn may or may `not have been cemented ofi.' in the conventional `manner' at the region of the rat holerprior to v boring the lrat hole.

VThe formation tester, generally indicated by 50 reference numeral. Il. embodies a working barrel I5, the upperend of which is provided with a packing gland I6 through which a hollow plunger rod section I1 extends. gress of liquid while it is being raised. In myin- The plunger rod section I'I is connected through 55 an externally threaded collar I8 with tubing I1' which extends to the surface of the ground where it can be reclprocated in any suitable manner.

A stop collar I8 is threaded on the connecting collar I8, such stop collar being provided with a clutch face shown as comprising a notch 20 which is adapted to receive another clutch member shown as comprising a projection 2| provided on the top of a packing nut I8'.

The stop collar just described is provided to optionally extend or shorten the effective length of the hollow plunger rod section |1 which extends into the working barrel for the purpose of actuating a control valve in the manner which will be hereinafter described.

The packing nut I8' is mounted in a sub 22 which forms.the upper end of the workingl barrel. and such sub is provided with a clutch member 23 adapted to engage a corresponding clutch member 24 formed in a collar 28 which is rigidly secured to the lower end portion of the hollow plunger rod section I1, this last mentioned clutch mechanism being for the purpose of actuating wall slips in the manner well known to those familiar with the art.

'I'he bottom oi' the hollow plunger rod section I1 is secured to a plunger member which is generally indicated by reference numeral 28, and it comprises what I may term a housing 21 having a valve seat 28 therein, such valve seat supporting a working valve 28.

The lower end of the housing 21 carries a' downwardly projecting hollow stem 80 which supports a plunger member 3| shown as being of the rubber packing type, such plunger member being held on the stem by means of a nut assembly 32.'

Mounted in the wall of the body between the plunger and the working valve, I provide relief valve means shown as comprising a short nipple 34 which is provided with a check valve 35 at its inner end. This last mentioned valve is for the purpose of relieving the pressure in the top of the working barrel during the up stroke of the plunger.

The bottom of the working barrel is formed by a chambered housing 38 which contains an apertured diaphragm I1 having seats 88 and 88 in both its top and bottom faces. Extending through the aperture in this diaphragm, is a loose fitting valve stem 40 which has valves 4| and 42 on its ends, such valves being adapted for engagement with the valve seats 38 and 38 respectively.

"Ihe valve 4| is adapted to act as an automatic check valve l during the reciprocation of the plunger, and the valve 42is provided for the purpose of preventing ingress of liquid from the bore hole into the working barrel while the tester is being lowered into the well.

In order to successfully function for this purpose, it is necessary to provide some means for holding the valve 42 in engagement with its seat 88 until such time as the tool may have been immersed. In this form of my invention, this is done by providing a pair of spring fingers 44 and. 4I in the bottom of the diaphragm plate 81 adjacent the lower valve seat 39. These flngersare shaped so as to provide shoulders 48 which extend vbelow the bottom face of the valve 42 and hold the valvejin engagement with its seat in the manner'shown in Fig. 1.

The portions of the fingers below the shoulders v48 are turned inwardly so that when lthe valve is forced downwardly below the lingers they engage the valve stem and "prevent upward movement of the valve unit by virtue ofthe engagement of the ends of the fingers with a shoulder 41 formed on the top of the bottom valve.

Reference numeral 58 indicates a conduit section which co-operates with the chambered housing 38 to form what I mayterm a liquid inlet conduit. The tubing l is provided with an enlargement BI having'a shoulder 52 below which exends a tapered face 58. such tapered :face being provided for the purpose of expanding a packing ring 54 which is slidably mounted upon a straight or untapered portion il of the tubing and which normally rests on a shoulder which is shown` as being formed by the upper edge of a gollar 81. The collar B1 supports a strainer pipe In the operation of a tool of the type Just described, the tester is assembled with the stop collar I8 screwed down into the position shown in Fig. l, and with the valve 42 releasably locked in its uppermost position by means of the spring ilngers 44 and 45 as illustrated in Fig. 1. The unit is then lowered into the well by means of a hollow plunger rod or conduit I1 such as an ordinary drill stem, until the packing ring 54 engages the shoulder I2.

It will be understood that the valve 42 will prevent the entrance of any liquid from the well into the working barrel during the downward movement of the tool, and itlis also to be understood that the length of the section I1 of the' hollow plunger rod and the threaded stop collar I9 is such that the upward movement of the working barrel, such as is caused by its buoyancy when it is immersed in the liquid of the well. will not bring the upper valve 4I into engagement with the bottom of the plunger.

When the tool has been lowered into the well to a point at which the packing ring 84 engages the shoulder I2, the continued application of weight by the downward movement of the tubing forces the conical face of the tubing section 50 through the packing ring expanding the same into engagement with'the shoulder, thereby sealing the bottom portion of the borehole from the upper portion.

In most wells in which a device of this character is used, the well normally contains at substantial quantity of mud or rotary drilling fluid and the weight of such fluid on the packer in a device of this character is suillcient to anchor the tool in the well. If the operator considers it advisable, however, he may, after the packer has been set, pump additional drilling fluid linto the well in order to anchor the tester and hold the barrel against movement during the pumping operation. After the device'has been positioned in the manner just described, it will be understood that the packer is in the position shown in Fig. 2 and that the plunger and its associated operating tubing are in the position shown in Fig. 1 where the clutch members 2li and 2| are engaged and the bottom of the plunger is supported a slight distance above' the upper valve 4|. With the parts arranged in this manner, the operator next rotates the tubing I1' at the surface of the ground; such rotation being effective, by vir- 4tue of the engagement ofthe clutch members 28 and 2|, to rotatethe collar member I8 within the stop collar'IS, thereby advancing the collar I8 and the tubing |1-|1' downwardly so as to bring the bottom of'the plunger into pressure engagement with the valve 4|. The length of the threads is such that by continued rotation the valve is forced downwardlyoil its seat admitting the liquid from therat hole or the sealed sone belowthepacker into the working barrel'.

l' Inasmuch as the'valve 4I is to act as "a" stand- 'ing valveduring the reciprocation ofthe plunger in the working barrel, the rotation of the tubing is continued until thevalve 42 has been forced into. the position shown in Fig. 2 where it is' below the spring fingers M and 45' suchflngers being compressed against the stem 40 where they will be engaged by the shoulder 41 to prevent the upwardmovement of the-valve 42 into engage- 'ment with its seat during the up stroke of the plunger. It will be seen, therefore, that when the unit is installed in the manner Just described', the plunger can be reciprocated by suitable means at the surface of the ground lto pump 1 ybe employedfor this purpose, Ishow in Figs.v

3 and 4 one form of such mechanism wherein the valve means for closing the tester, during such times as the packer is not set, is shown as being incorporated in'\the packer itself.

In this form of my invention, reference numeral 6|! indicates a working barrel containing a piston 6i which is similar in'its construction and operation to the piston and working barrel assembly shown in Figs. l and 2 except that it is unnecessary to employ the stop i9 in this latter 40 construction. 'Ijhe'bottom of the working. barrel Sii engages what I may term a bushing mem- 'ber 462 which is provided with a valve seat- 63 and a standing'valve 64.

i The bushing 82-is connected to and communicates with a'. connection 65 which has -a tapered portion 86 and a straight portion 61 upon which a packer 68 is slidably mounted. The tapered portion B6 terminates in an upper shoulder 69 which limits the upward movement of the packer. The bottom of the straight portion 61 is provided with a closure cap 1liE which forms a shoulder for supporting the packer against downward movement, and the packer is shown as being secured'at its lower edge to a metal ring 1I.

For the purpose of admitting uid into thel tubing through the connection .65. 1 provide the.

straight portion 61 of the connection with a port or a plurality of ports, generally indicated by reference'numeral 12. These ports, as shownin Fig. 3, are normally closed by the packer. but` when the tool is, lowered 'into a position at which the packer is spread over the tapered portion 66,

into sealed engagement with a shoulder I2' in the bore hole, the ports 12 are uncovered for admit- 6 5 ting liquid from the packed off lowerportion of the bore hole. i

When thel tool is lifted "from the formation, it will be' seen that thepressure of the liquid in the upper portion. of the bore hole is effective to hold the packer against upward movement so `that it is forced into itsilower position to close the ports 12 before it is lifted from4 the shoulder I 2' I'n this construction, a wm be seen that the packer vand the ports12 co-operated'to constitute underground formation which includes lowering bottom ofsaid working barrel; packing `means what is in effect a sleeve valve whichis automatically openedvwhen the packer is set aiidisautomatically closed before the Vpacker can be re- 'leasedby an upward pulling force. Other types of valve mechanism may be employed to 'the 5 'tester during installation and 'removah ItV will be understood fromthe foregoing description, that my invention contemplates a novel method ofobtaining a `sample of fluid from an l0 a. sealed'tubing into the formation in the borehole, then packingthebore hole aroundthe tubing to seal the bottom of the bore hole and the formation in question from the remainder of the bore hole, then breaking the seal in the tubing and pumping. the fluid from the bore hole in 121e isolated region of the formation being es 4 v It is to be understood that, while I have herein described and illustrated certain preferred vforms of apparatus for attaining the objects of this in'- vention and practicing the method'iustdescribed.- the invention is not limited to the precise forms of apparatus shown and described herein but includes within its scope whatever changes fairly come within the spirit of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A testing device of the class described einbodying: a working barrel adapted to be sus pended in a bore hole; a hollow plunger in 'said 30 working barrel; a hollow plunger rod'extendi'ng throughthe top of said working barrel for supporting said plunger; a working valve in said plunger; a standing valve in the bottom of said vworking barrel; a liquid inlet conduit in the bottom of said working barrel having an enlarged conical shaped upper portion; packing means slidably mounted on said'liquid 'inlet conduit: and valve means associated with said liquid inlet con# duit for releasably sealing said working barrel against ingress of liquid from said bore hole.

2. A testing device of the class described embodying: a working barrel adapted to be suspend- 'f ed in a bore `hole; a hollow plunger in said working barrel; a hollow plunger rod .extending throughthe top of said working barrel for supporting said plunger: a working valve in said plunger; a standing 'valve in the bottom of said working barrel; a liquid inletconduit vin the on saidliquid inlet conduit; valve means associ# ated with said liquid inlet conduit for releasably sealing said working barrel against ingress of liquid from said bore hole; and means operable by the weight of said hollow plunger rod when said packer is supported against further downv weird movement for opening said last mentioned va ve.

3. A formation tester of the class described embodying: the combination of a working barrel: a hollow plunger in said working barrel; a hol'- low plunger rod extending through the top of said working barrel' for operating said plunger: a liquiddelivery tubingmounted on the bottom of said working barrel; packing means associated c5 with said working barrelfor engaging thewall of the bore hole; a working valve in said hollow plunger rod; an upwardly opening standing valve in the bottom of said barrel; a downwardly opening valve on the bottom of. said barrel; and re- "leasable means for holding' said last mentioned' valve in Ya closed position.

4. A 'formation' tester of the class described embodying: the combination of a working barrel:

a hollow' plungerin vsaid working barrel; a hol- 1s low plunger rod extending through the top o! said said working barrel; packing means associated with said working barrel for engaging the wall of the bore hole; a working valve in said hollow plunger rod; a diaphragm plate in the bottom of said working barrel said plate having a pas# sage therethrough provided with valve seats in the ends of said passage; a valve stem extending through said passage; valves on the end of said stem for engaging the respective valve seats; releasable means for holding the lowermost of said 'valves in engagement with its corresponding seat; and means for imparting downward movement to said plunger to engage the uppermost valve and force the lowermost valve from its seat.

5. A formation tester of the class described embodying: the combination of a working barrel; a hollow plunger in said working barrel; a hollow plunger rod extending through the top of said working barrel for operating said plunger;

a liquiddelivery tubing mounted on the bottom oi' said workingbarrel; packing means associated with said working barrel for engaging the wall of the bore hole; a working valve in said hollow .plunger rod; a diaphram plate in the bottom oi' vsaid working barrel; said plate having a passage 'therethrough provided with valve seats in the ends of said passage; a valve stem extending through said passage; valves on the ends of said stem for engaging the respective valve seats; re-

leasable means for holding the lowermost of said valves in engagement with its corresponding seat; means for imparting downward movement to said plunger to engage the uppermost valve and force the lowermost valve from its seat; and means for holding said lowermost4 valve away from its corresponding seat.

6. Av formation tester of the class described embodying: the combination of a working barrel; a hollow plunger in said working barrel; a hollow plunger rod extending through the top of said working `barrel for operating said plunger; a liquid delivery` tubing mounted on the bottom of said working barrel; packing means associated with said working barrel for engaging the wall of the bore hole; a working valve in` said hollow plunger rod; a diaphragm plate in thebottom of said working barrel, said plate having a passage Vtherethrough provided with valve "seats in the ends of said passage; a valve stem extending,

through said passage; valves on the ends of said stem for engaging the respective valve seats; releasable means forv holding the lowermost of said valves in engagement with its corresponding seat; means for imparting downward movement to said plunger to engage the uppermost valveand force the lowermost valve from itsseat; and means for holding said -lowermost valve away from its corresponding seat; said valve holding means being formed so as to permit a substantial upward movement of said upper valve.

'1. A formation tester of the class described embodying; the combination of a working barrel; a hollow plunger in said working barrel; a hollow plungerv rod extending through the top of said working barrel for voperating said plunger; a liquid delivery tubing mounted on the bottom of said working barrel; packing means associated with said working barrel for engaging the wall of the bore hole; a working valve in said hollow plunger rod; a diaphragm plate in the bottom of said working barrel, said plate having a. passage therethrough provided with valve seats in the ends of said passage; a valve stem extending through said passage; valves on the ends of said stem for engaging the respective seats; releasable means for holding the lowermost of said valves in engagement with its corresponding seat; and threaded means operable by rotating said plunger rod for imparting downward movement to said plunger to engage the uppermost valve and force the lowermost valve from its seat.

8. A formation tester of the class described embodying: the combination of a working barrel; a hollow plunger in said working barrel; a hollow plunger rod for operating said plunger; a standing valve in the bottom of said working barrel; a liquid delivery tubing on the bottom of said working barrel; a packing member slidably mounted on said liquid delivery tubing; means including a tapered surface oh ythe upper portion of said liquid delivery tubing for expanding said packer during the downward movement of said liquid delivery tubing through said packer; and

closure means in the bottom of said liquid delivery tubing, said liquid delivery tubing being provided with wall ports positioned so asl-to be covered by said packer when it is in its lowermost position and adapted to be uncovered when said tubing'is moved downwardly relative to said packer.

9. A formation tester of the class described embodying: a working barrel adapted to be sus-l 4 

